MONADNOCK
REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board
Meeting Minutes
������������������ Monadnock Regional High
School Library, Swanzey, NH
Present: Dixie Gurian, Chair Robin Marra, Richard Thackston, William Felton, Winston Wright, Colline Dreyfuss, Tim Aho, Bruce Tatro, Alan Gross, Gene White, Bruce McCulley and Jeff Friedman. Absent: Karen Cota, John Morin and Marianne Mathis.�
Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt. and L. Biron, Business Manager.� Principals: D. Mousette and B. Tatro.�
R. Marra reminded the Board of its mission to strive for the best education of every child.
1.�������� CONSENT AGENDA:
Minutes of December 7, 2004 Board
Minutes, December 7, 2004 Non-Public Minutes and December 14, 2004 Non-Public
Minutes. MOTION: W. Felton MOVED to approve all the minutes. SECOND:
B. Tatro. VOTE: 9.086/0/2.658/3.256. Motion passes. �
2.�������� CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENT: C.
Cardine informed the Board that he had received an e-mail from P. Croteau
congratulating four students on their accomplishments at All-State. The
students were L. Clark, I. John, A. Johnson and K. Grosia.
C. Cardine passed out the sets of public hearing minutes to the Board and apologized for not� e-mailing them because the week had been so busy.
C. Cardine distributed information and a brochure concerning the Middle School, which he had received from D. Hodgdon.
T. Aho thought additional information should be included in the minutes on the public hearing. �R. Marra will add language.
A. Gross commented on the article concerning the high school locker rooms highlighting the crowded conditions.. He said it was nicely done.�
�3.������� STUDENT COUNCIL CONCERNS: No report.
4. �����School Board Committee Reports:
� Board Committee Reports: �
1.� Community Relations Committee: D. Gurian informed the Board that the committee met earlier tonight but there was no quorum. The committee discussed ways to get �information out to the public about the building projects. The committee will meet at the break to set a date for the next meeting.
2.� Facilities Committee: B. Tatro reported to the Board that the Facilities and the Finance Committees met jointly. The committees received handouts that had the budget figures for the MC2 School. He mentioned that MRHS has received two more donations for the high school gym floor. The motions to accept the donations will be done during the Finance Report. L. Biron handed out samples of the Warrant Articles. B. Tatro explained that there were public comments. The next Facilities meeting will be on Jan. 7, 05 at 8:00am in the board room.
3. Finance Committee: W. Wright reported that the meeting had been a joint meeting and the Board already heard what was discussed. MOTION: W. Wright� MOVED to accept a donation in the amount of $500.00 from Frazier and Sons and a matching donation in the amount of $500.00 from the Cardine Family to make renovation to the high school gym floor. DISCUSSION: �A. Gross suggested that the Board send thank you letters for the donations. D. Gurian had suggested that when the old floor is removed that pieces be made into plaques to be given to donators with their name and a thank you note written on it. VOTE: 11.744/0/0/3.256. Motion passes.� ��
4. Policy Committee: W. Felton gave a summary on the information that had been handed out in the packets from the Dec.14, 2004 meeting. L. Biron discussed the building bidding process with the committee. L. Biron will bring more information to the next meeting which will be on Tues. Jan. 11, 2005 at 5:45 PM.��
5. Cheshire Career Center: A. Gross reported that the committee had a meeting on Dec. 8, 04 in which C. Cardine and A. Gross attended. The renovations are complete except for a handful of things. The project was under budget. The Automotive Area was discussed. A. Gross said that there are 48 students that attend the CCC from Monadnock and the extra van provided by the grant was a great help. The regional agreement is coming up for review. Someone from the CCC will be coming to discuss this with the Board. C. Cardine commented that because of the vans the amount of students from Monadnock has doubled. Next year C. Cardine will propose that when the grant runs out that the van is budgeted for. R. Thackston commented that the amount of children attending is four times the amount of last year.
6. Ad Hoc Advisory Committee: R. Marra announced that the next meeting will be on Jan. 3, 05 at 5:30 PM.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
M. Imon commented on the positive effect of the MC2 School on her child and encouraged everyone to read the recent letter in the Sentinel. She was pleased to see the Board moving forward towards a Middle School concept. M. Imon commented that she was appalled by the conflict of interest between the Richmond Budget Committee Member and his position as the Tax Collector.
W. Imon commented on the fact that the Budget Committee has an agenda but it is not education. He said that he would no longer sit and be quiet and plans a petition to get rid of the Budget Committee. He supports the School Board and the schools and said that the School Board should be upset because of the Budget Committee being in the middle.
D. Gurian addressed the Board and passed out and read a letter to the Board and the public referring to “Surprising Information”.
J. Gomarlo commented on the increase suggested by the Budget Committee and the willingness to have a joint meeting with the Board to discuss the cuts. C. Cardine has the information on the cuts.
R. Mitchell, a new member on the Budget Committee, commented on the process of the budget committee. He too said that they would be willing to have a joint meeting to discuss the 4 % increase.
J. Fortson thanked the administration and the “people in the hot seat.” She explained that it went on for 2 months and from the information arrived with the number. R. Thackston asked if the budget was lower than the default. J. Gomarlo responded it was $900,000.00 lower.
6. Other School Board Business
A. New
Business:
Northern Schools Committee: R. Marra informed the Board that 3 more parents and teachers are needed for the committee. D. Mousette offered his assistance. J. Gomarlo said that N. Johnson would be an alternate on the committee.
B. Old
Business:
SAU Related Business: C. Cardine informed the Board that at the SAU Meeting on Dec. 20, 2004 the line of district Related Services was explained. The services in this account area are not part of the SAU Budget and it would be illegal to remove. It was recommended that K. Dassau’s office be moved to the management part of the SAU budget.
State Aid Summary: C. Cardine passed out information to the Board concerning the State Aid. He explained the different sections on the sheet and the information for each section. T. Aho asked if the $126,000.00 for the building proposal and the Honeywell contract included the interest. C. Cardine explained that it did and L. Biron clarified that it was a rounded figure. He explained that section C on the sheet did not include the principal contracts. R. Marra corrected a statement that the School Board had a target of 8% for the budget increase. He said there was never such a discussion or proposal. R. Thackston asked when the Board would receive the Budget Committees cuts. J. Gomarlo said that it was not the place of the Budget Committee to make line item cuts. She said that the MS27 block accounts were given to C. Cardine. R. Thackston asked if the Budget Committee expected the School Board to figure out the cuts. C. Cardine said that he would give the Board a copy of the information in which he received from J. Gomarlo. It was asked if new staff was taken out of the spreadsheet. C. Cardine said that there are no new staff members and a teacher at Emerson will be leaving. B. Tatro said that it baffles him that the Budget Committee came up with a 4% increase. J. Gomarlo said that the Budget Committee members are not the educators, they are the numbers people. R. Marra asked if the Board could have a copy of the cuts made by the Budget Committee. R. Thackston commented that the budget number could be raised at the Deliberative Session. R. Marra commented that in the past the Board has asked the administrators to come up with different scenarios. A. Gross asked what the Budget Committees number was. The number is $27,255,242.00 not including the Grants and Food Service in the amount of $970,000.00. J. Gomarlo gave the Board a short history of the Budget Committee this past year leading up to their budget number. R. Bauries said that the work was done before the cuts and the information on how they arrived at the number should be available to the Board if requested. W. Felton asked that the committee’s rationale be in given in written form. The Budget Committee should have a formal, written explanation on their position. R. Marra asked if the Budget Committee did the work and ended up with a 4% increase or did they just say a 4% increase in order to get to the figure. J. Gomarlo said that the Budget Committee voted on this figure at 10:30 PM. R. Marra said that he was curious because a 4% increase was the same as last year. R. Mitchell said that the School Board and the Budget Committee should get together to discuss the budget. R. Marra requested copies of the minutes.. N. Moriarty said that he would e-mail them to the Board. J. Gomarlo said that she does not want to release the minutes until the chair has reviewed them. The Board would like the minutes and the rational on how they arrived at the number. R. Thackston said that the Board needs to develop its budget. J. Gomarlo mentioned the process of the sheets of paper on the walls and the Board would like to see those as well or at least the information that they contained. R. Marra said that they need to know the rational because the 4 % does not make sense.
C. Curriculum Report: Middle School Task Force Update: D. Hodgdon was not able to attend the meeting tonight.
D. 21st
Century Report: No report.
E. Action on the Manifest: No manifest was presented tonight.
7.
Superintendent’s Report: C. Cardine informed the Board and the public that
he and K. Dassau are attending meetings nearly every night concerning the
budget and little else is getting done. There are three District budgets in
addition to the SAU. The professionals are
preparing information on a variety of items and consequently other work such as
curriculum and the Middle School are being taken away because of the
budget.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS: N. Moriarty recognized the problem concerning the work being asked for at the SAU and in the future will ask only for the data needed by the Budget Committee. He said that they would agree on 1 set of requirements. We (the Budget Committee) are to blame as well.
9. Board Chair Report: No
report.
10. SETTING UP THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA:
1. Committees
2. Budget 2005-2006
3. 21st Century Report
R. Marra said that he would like the Board to reserve Jan. 11, 2005 to discuss the
Public Hearing on Jan. 13, 2005.
11. NON PUBLIC SESSION
8:40 PM. A. Gross MOVED
to enter into non-public session for RSA 91-A:3(a) personnel. SECOND: D. Gurian. VOTE: 12.765/0/0/2.235.
Motion passes. Roll call vote was taken.
8:52 PM A. Gross
MOVED to return to public session. SECOND: T.Aho. VOTE:
Unanimous for those
present. Motion passes.
8:52 PM R. Thackston MOVED
to enter into non-public session for RSA 91-A:3(e) - consideration or negotiation of pending
claims or litigation . SECOND: A.Gross. VOTE: 12.765/0/0/2.235.. Motion
passes. Roll call vote was taken.
9:20 PM R.Thackston MOVED to return to public session. SECOND:
W. Felton. VOTE: 12.765/0/0/2.235. Motion passes.
12.
Adjournment
9:20 PM J. Friedman MOVED
to adjourn. SECOND: C. Dreyfuss. VOTE: Unanimous for those
present. Motion Passes
Respectfully submitted,
Laura L. Aivaliotis
MRSD Secretary
MONADNOCK
REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board
Meeting Minutes
Monadnock Regional High
School Library, Swanzey, NH
8:40 PM. A. Gross MOVED to
enter into non-public session for RSA 91-A:3(a) personnel. SECOND: D. Gurian. VOTE: 12.765/0/0/2.235.
Motion passes. Roll call vote was taken.
Present: Dixie Gurian, Chair Robin Marra, Richard Thackston, William Felton, Winston Wright, Colline Dreyfuss, Tim Aho, Bruce Tatro, Alan Gross, Gene White, Bruce McCulley and Jeff Friedman. Absent: Karen Cota, John Morin and Marianne Mathis.
Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt. L. Biron, Business Manager,
C. Cardine presented a request
from Mary Gaul, NEA Uni-Director to the board to hear an issue that he was
advised by counsel was not a grievable issue. W. Felton MOVED to deny
the request. SECOND: D. Gurian. VOTE: 10.630/1.021/1.114.2.35 MOTION PASSES.
8:52 PM A. Gross
MOVED to return to public session. SECOND: T.Aho. VOTE:
Unanimous for those
present. Motion passes.
MONADNOCK
REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board
Meeting Minutes
Monadnock Regional High
School Library, Swanzey, NH
8:52 PM R. Thackston MOVED to enter into
non-public session for RSA 91-A:3(e)
- consideration or negotiation of pending claims or litigation . SECOND:
A.Gross. VOTE: 12.765/0/0/2.235.. Motion passes. Roll call vote
was taken.
Present: Dixie Gurian, Chair Robin Marra, Richard Thackston, William Felton, Winston Wright, Colline Dreyfuss, Tim Aho, Bruce Tatro, Alan Gross, Gene White, Bruce McCulley and Jeff Friedman. Absent: Karen Cota, John Morin and Marianne Mathis.
Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt. L. Biron, Business Manager,
A. Gross MOVED to
unseal the minutes of December 7 on the pending
litigation. SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 11.644/0/1.121/2.35. Motion
passes.
9:20 PM R.Thackston MOVED to return to public session. SECOND:
W. Felton. VOTE: 12.765/0/0/2.235. Motion passes.
MONADNOCK
REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Non-Public
Board Meeting Minutes
December
7, 2004
Monadnock
Regional High School Library, Swanzey, NH
10:10PM G.White MOVED to enter into non-public
session for RSA 91-A:3(e) - consideration
or negotiation of pending claims or litigation . SECOND: A.Gross.
VOTE: 12.062/0/0/2.938. Motion passes. Roll call vote was taken.
Present: Tim Aho, Alan Gross,
Dixie Gurian, Chair Robin Marra, Richard Thackston, William Felton, Bruce
Tatro, Bruce McCulley; John Morin, Gene White, and Winston Wright. Absent: Colline Dreyfuss, Karen Cota,
Jeff Friedman, Marianne Mathis
Also present: C. Cardine, Supt., K. Dassau, Asst. Supt. L. Biron, Business Manager, Atty J.Hoppock
Atty Hoppock discussed pending litigation with the board. R.
Thackston MOVED to retain the firm
of Hoppock and Prigge to represent the district and to provide council to the
school board member . SECOND: W. Felton. VOTE: 10.165/0/1.897/2.938.
Motion passes.
J.Morin MOVED to
seal the record while litigation is pending. SECOND: A.Gross. VOTE: 10.941/0/1.121/2.938.
Motion passes.
10:45 PM R.Thackston MOVED to return to public session. SECOND:
A.Gross. VOTE: Unanimous
for those present. Motion
passes.